Warrior medals for bomb hero Daniel

GAVIN CAMPBELL

A soldier who survived a suicide bombing while in the army has won medals at the Warrior Games in America.

Daniel Hutchison, 38, has recently moved to Bo’ness and this year won silver and bronze in the United States version of the Invictus Games.

He spent 14 years in the army as part of a recon unit until one day in 2008, while on tour in northern Afghanistan, a 12-year-old boy with a wheelbarrow stepped in front of his convoy.

Daniel’s vehicle had moved alongside another in front of it when the boy detonated his bomb.

Daniel suffered a shattered rib cage and spent eight months in hospital. He said: “I had 15 operations and was in and out of hospital.

“My hips and knees have also been affected, making it more difficult to walk.”

He was discharged in January 2013 and moved to Bo’ness.

Through Help For Heroes, he was made aware of the Warrior Games in America and decided to put his name forward in February.

He was selected and was soon on a plane to Las Vegas for the trials with the British Armed Forces team.

He said: “Vegas is something else. The trials were brilliant to be a part of and being able to enjoy Vegas wasn’t too bad either.”

Daniel won silver in the wheelchair basketball and also competed in the discus and shot put.

He added: “I wanted to compete in the volleyball but because of my injuries there was a fear it could do more damage.”

In June, Daniel competed in the Warrior Games in Virginia with a 30-strong GB team and won bronze, again in wheelchair basketball.

Daniel admitted his reception in America was humbling, saying: “Soldiers are just treated better. As soon as they hear you served your country, they totally appreciate the sacrifices you made. Over here, it’s not so much.”

Daniel has volunteered for the Invictus Games and hopes to be in Orlando next summer representing Team GB.